Piano-case.



J. c. SCHLEICHEB.

PIANO CASE.

(Application filed June 4, 1897.)

Patented. May 29, I900.

(No Model.)

ZSheets-Sheet l,

HIIHIII WHIHHIH WITNESSES: "I'NVENIOR AT 0RNE-Y 1-": NORRIS PETERS c0, mowurna. WASHINGTON, 0. cv

0 0 w 9 2 V. a M d e t n e t a P on E H C E L H C S C i A 00 .U 5 6 0 N P l A N 0 G A S E (Application filed June 4, 1897.)

2 Shaets--Shef 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

THE upnms PETERS m. Pum'uilvmu. WASHINGTON n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. SCHLEIOI-IER, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEYV YORK.

PIANO-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,484, dated May 29, 1 900.

Application filed T e 1897. Serial No. 639,482. (No model.)

T QZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN G. SCHLEICHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Mount Vernon, county of Westchester, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Piano-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in piano-cases, and particularly to those parts of the front casing known as the panels and fall-board. Its object is to provide a simple and easily-operated fall-board.which will occupy a comparatively-small amount of space when opened and which will admit of the front panels being so constructed as to form a permanent desk or music-rack, and to provide such a desk and at the same time provide means whereby the obstruction of the sound of the piano by the sheets of music on the desk may be remedied. To accomplish these objects, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings referred to herein, like letters referring to like parts in each figure thereof.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a piano-case embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same, taken through lines 2 2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detail end View of the fall-board. Fig. 4: is a back view of one end of the same.

The fall-board B is hinged to the main frame A of the piano by means of the metal hinges B, one at either end thereof, which may be pivotally secured thereto or to the key-block by means of the bolt 1) or other suitable means of attachment. The lower fall-board B is firmly secured at its inner edge to this hinge, and in its lower position when closed down over the keys extends outward, covering the same and resting its lower edge or lip 19 upon the rail a. The hinge B has a lug b, to which the upper board B of the fall-board is pivoted. It has also an inwardly-turned flange 19 which serves to hold the upper board in its upright position by pressing against the lower edge thereof when the fall-board is closed down. The fall-board is opened by placing the fingers beneath the lower edge of the lip 17 and pressing the board B upward. This board being firmly secured to the hinge B causes it to turn upon its pivot-bolt Z), withdrawing the flange D from the lower edge of the board 13 and allowing the same to fall backward by reason of its weight until it strikes the dowel a, which acts as a stop and prevents it from further falling. The lower board is pressed upward until it rests against the lower lip O of the desk D, assuming the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. When it is desired to close the fall-board, the lower board is pressed downwardly by the fingers, thus turning the hinge again and causing the flange b to press against the lowerv edge of the board B raising it to its upright position and holding it in place.

The desk D is constructed by extending the lower lip O, which is preferably made of a separate piece of material, across the front of the case, between the side arms A, and resting the front casing thereon, so that they extend upward, meeting the front part of the main case, near the top thereof, at an angle of about thirtydegrees and beingsecured thereto. The lip 0 extends beyond the lower edge of the front casing and panels D and serves to keep the sheets of music from falling off the desk. It will be seen that the arrangement of the front panels and lip so as to form a desk is permitted by the peculiar construction of the fall-board, which, being made in two pieces, jointed together and operating in the manner described, does not extend upward as far as the ordinary fall-board made in one piece.

At either side of the front panels I have provided doors E, cut out of the panels and hinged thereto by the hinges 6. These doors are adapted to be opened for the purpose of allowing the sound of the piano to escape and also serve when the case is used for self-' playing pianos as a convenient method of reaching the keys or steps upon the interior by which the operation of such pianos is controlled. I have found this arrangement of doors at either side of the desk desirable, as the sound of the piano, even though the front panels be made of open scrollwork, will be obstructed by the sheets of music, and hav ing no other place to escape where the desk is made integral with the front casing would be considerably muliled unless provision were made for its escape. I am aware that such openings have been provided at the top of the piano by extending the upper part of the case 5 but this is an expensive arrangement and does not serve the purpose as well as my arrangement, as by the use of my openings the sound of the notes will be allowed to reach the ears of the player directly.

The use of my fall-board overcomes the objection to such boards as require the assistance of weights in their operation, as the upper board B when falling backward nearly balances the weight of the lower board 13 thus necessitating the use of a very little exertion in opening or closing the board. It is not liable also to pinch the fingers of the person opening it by suddenly flying upward, as

frequently occurs in boards provided with weights.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. In combination with the casing of a piano, a fall-board constructed in two parts and a pivot-piece to which the vertical side edges of said parts are secured, the upper part piv-' otally and the lower part fixedly; said pivotpiece being pivotally attached to the casing below the point where the said parts are secured.

2. In combination with the casing of a piano, a fall-board constructed in two parts, the upper one pivotally and the lower one fixedly secured at its vertical side edge to a common pivot-piece which is also pivoted to the easing below the point where said parts are attached and which has a projection made integral therewith adapted to bear against the upper part and sustain it in a Vertical position.

JOHN C. SCllliElOllER.

Witnesses:

S. J. COX, J12,

E. F. BALLENTINE. 

